Meinklang

Where cattle graze between rows of vines

Pamhagen is located where Austria's geological depths are at their lowest - and where the Michlits brothers have been proving since 2001 that viticulture can be more than just monoculture. Werner looks after the 30 hectares of vineyards, Hannes looks after the grain, the youngest looks after the cattle in Hungary. The parents? Tirelessly in the thick of it. The entire extended family and their children live under one roof in a renovated farmhouse.

Demeter certification is not a badge here, but a living reality: cow horns filled with fermented manure rest in the soil throughout the winter. Herbal preparations based on Rudolf Steiner's teachings revitalise the soil. The cattle provide the fertiliser, the grain feeds the animals - a cycle that has been self-sustaining for generations.

Concrete eggs and gravity

Patience reigns in the cellar. Werner works exclusively with gravity - no pumps, no hectic pace. The grapes land in egg-shaped concrete vessels, whose shape allows natural circulation during fermentation. Spontaneously fermented, unsulphurised and unfined, wines such as the Graupert Pinot Gris - a Pinot Gris, which has been left to its own devices and therefore tastes so lively.

From Lake Neusiedl to the volcano

The flat steppe landscape around Lake Neusiedl characterises the classic grape varieties: Grüner Veltliner, Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt and Sankt Laurent. But the Michlits think further: on the Hungarian side, on the slopes of the extinct Somló volcano, they grow Hárslevelü and Juhfark - grape varieties that have long been forgotten elsewhere.

The Burgenlandwhite and the Burgenlandrot epitomise this philosophy in everyday life: uncomplicated wines that are easy to drink but still have depth. Those who want to dig deeper will find Graupert Zweigelt a red wine that shows what happens when you give the wine time and rest.

A farm as an organism

The name says it all: „Mein“ stands for Werner's personal signature, „Klang“ for harmony with nature. The cow motif on the labels, designed by artist Nikolaus Eberstaller, symbolises this cycle - it is one of the most apt images for biodynamics ever.

Angela and Werner have not only built up a farm, but also a Waldorf school in the region founded. Anthroposophical philosophy pervades her life: from the classroom to the vineyard. Also Heinrich Winery, just a few kilometres away in Burgenland, works according to biodynamic principles - the region has developed into a hotspot for vibrant wines.

From natural wine bars in Paris to top restaurants in Copenhagen: Meinklang wines can be found on menus where authenticity counts. Here you can taste what a farm can be when it is thought of as a living organism.